Torpedo depth control system



April 9, 1946. s. T. Busa-:Y 2,397,946

' TORPEDO DEPTH CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG! 4' SAMUEL T. BUSSEY.

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Patented Apr. 9, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) Claims.

This invention relates to torpedoes, and more specifically, to improved meansV for controlling the travel of the torpedo whileV it is submerged.

As constructed, at the present time, torpedoes are provided With horizontal tail planes which are actuated once the torpedo is submerged to bring it to a given depth, and to maintain it at a substantially constant depth throughout the course of its travel. This is accomplished by a depth engine which is operably connected to the horizontal planes to tilt the horizontal planes in one direction or the other in response to a diaphragm exposed to water pressure. By presetting the diaphragm so that it will respond to a given pressure, the depth engine may be caused to bring the torpedo to the given depth. In combination with the hydraulic diaphragm, there is operably connected, a pendulum which is suspended to swing about a horizontal axis and in a vertical plane longitudinally of the torpedo, and its connection to the depth engine keeps the torpedo in a horizontal plane once it has attained its predetermined depth. In a torpedo so controlled, the momentum of the torpedo and its inertia as it enters the Water and seeks to gain its position, causes it to overrun the given depth in one direction or the other. Hence, the path of the torpedo will be substantially sinusoidal in character for a considerable distance before it reaches a stabilized depth.

It is an object of this invention to provide means for dampening the einusoidal path of the torpedo, that is, to reduce the hunting of the torpedo for its predetermined level of run, the means being of such a nature that it may readily be installed in existing torpedoes Without undue redesigning and which Will be effective and accomplish the desired results.

As illustrated herein, the invention resides in horizontal planes arranged at both the nose and the tail of an underwater body which is selfpropelled,, specifically, a torpedo, the planes at the nose being adapted to govern the depth of the torpedo and the planes at the. tail being adapted to govern the angle at which the torpedo moves, the planes at the nose and tail being operable independently of each other. The nose planes are comparatively larger in area than the tail planes and extend laterally from the torpedo outwardly; the lateral edges terminating approximately in a projection of the 1argest diameter of the torpedo. The nose planes are actuated by a depth engine, the direction of movement of which is controlled by a hydraulic diaphragm. The hydraulic diaphragm is susceptible of adjustment to cause the depth engine to bring the torpedo to a given depth and to transmit the depth setting from the rear end of the torpedo to the hydraulic diaphragm at the nose which is operably connected to the depth engine, there is a hydraulic cylinder including a piston movable by means of a depth setting screw accessible from the outside of the torpedo near its rear end, a hydraulic conduit connecting the hydraulic cylinder to a second hydraulic cylinder including a second hydraulic piston connected to the diaphragm by Way of a spring, the second piston being arranged by movement, to tension the spring and hence to displace the diaphragm from a neutral position so that the depth engine will operate to cause the torpedo to sink to a position in which the pressure on the diaphragm moves it back to its neutral position.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of an aircraft type of torpedo illustrating depth planes at the nose of the torpedo in accordance With my invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates an aircraft type torpedo partly broken away to show the disposition of the elements which effect operation of the depth planes at the nose and tail;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary portion of the torpedo at the nose in plan showing the shape of the nose planes;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in section of the hydraulically operated diaphragm for controlling the depth engine; and

Fig. 5 is a section through the depth setting means at the rear end of the torpedo.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown an aircraft type of torpedo I 0 in perspective, the torpedo being provided at its nose l2 with horizontal nose planes l4 and at its tail IB with horizontal tail planes l8. The torpedo is also provided with the usual stabilizers 20 and propelling means 22, and while shown herein as an aircraft type torpedo may be any of the well known types of torpedoes. The nose planes M, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 3, extend laterally outward from near the nose I 2 of the torpedo, the forward edges being substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the torpedo, and the rear edges Conforming closely to the contour of the nose of the torpedo so that the nose planes are substantially triangular in shape. The lateral edges of the nose planes terminate just short of the projection of the largest diameter of the torpedo, and hence, eliminate any chance of damaging the planes if the torpedo is. mounted in a. tube or bracket Which closely engage the body of the torpedo.

The rear planes IB are constructed and actuated, as is customary, by the Combined operation of a hydraulic diaphragm and a pendulum, this unit being indicated generally by the reference character 24. Briefiy, the unit consists of a housing within Which there is mounted a diaphragm, theposition of which controls a depth steering engine 2-6. The depth steering engine diaphragm is so arranged that-it is exposed at one side to air pressure and at the opposite side to water pressure, the water pressure being thatv which exists because of the depth of the water at which the torpedo is located- On the side of the diaphragm which is exposed to the water, there is connected a spring which may be adjusted to impart an initial tension thereto and hence to displace the diaphragm a given amount With respect to its neutral position. By setting the tension in the spring so that it will require a definite pressure to force the diaphragm from its displaced position to the neutral position, there is provided a convenient method for governing lthe depth at which the torpedo will run. For. example, if the spring is set so that it will take a given number'of pounds pressure per square inch to cause it to move from its predetermined position to a neutral position, the torpedo will, when submerged, dive below the surface of the water until a depth is reached where this pressure Vwill exist, whereupon the diaphragm will move to a neutral position and the depth planes will be caused by means of the depth engine, to take a neutral position, whereupon the torpedo will theoretically remain at that position for the length of its run. While the torpedo is running at its lgiven depth, there is, however, a tendency for it to plane upwardly or downwardly with respect to its horizontal axis, and hence, there is provided a free pendulum which will actuate the depth engine to tilt the rudder up or down whenever the torpedo tends to run out of its horizontal plane.

The aforesaid construction is all standard and is employed in standard torpedo constructions, but has a disadvantage in thatthe torpedo tends to move sinusoidly, particularly in its initial attempt to reach its given depth. This Wandering or hunting of the torpedo is undesirable, and it is the purpose of this invention to reduce this effect insofar as possible. Accordingly, there is provided, as illustrated herein, means in the nature of additional planes at the nose of the torpedo. As shown, Fig. 2, the planes |4 at the nose of the torpedo are connected for tilting movement about a horizontal axis passing through thenose of the torpedo to a horizontal shaft 34% suitably mounted in the nose of the torpedo, the shaft havingconnected thereto a lever 36 and a link 38, the latter being a part of a piston rod whichis reciprocated by a Vdepth engine fiil. The depth engine 46 receives its power-from a compressed air conduit 4! Which may be connected to the air flask of Vthe torpedo, The depth setting engine 46 is controlled by a hydraulic unit 42 including a diaphragm somewhat similar to that described generally above, the diaphragm being connected by links 44, 46 and 48 to the depth control engine to regulatethe operation of the same. The details of the depth control unit 42 and diaphragm are shown in Fig. 4, and as'illustrated therein, consist of a housing 63 having three ohambers therein, 46, 48 and 56. The chamber 66 is divided from thechamber 48 by a wall 52 and the chamber 56 is divide'd' from the chamber 48 by a diaphragm 54. Within the chamber 65, there is mounted a piston 56 having a piston rod 58 attached thereto, the latter extending through an aperture 60 formed in the wall 52'and having threaded on its innerend a cup shaped member 62, a nut 64 being threaded on the piston rod to hold the cup in place. On

'extension of the link 44.

V Vthe upper face of the piston 56, there is formed an annular shoulder 66 over which there'is disposed al coil spring 68, the spring abutting the top of `the piston and the top of the chamber 46. A spindle 16 is fastened to the diaphragm v54V and has threaded thereon a cupped shaped `member 12, which is secured in place by a nut 14.V Between cups 62 and 14 there is disposed a spring 16. An aperture 18 is formed in the spindle 76 and through this aperturepasses an inner The chamber 56 has leading into it, a conduit 60, a gland 82 being provided for this purpose. The conduit 86 ex- 4tends rearwardly from the nose of the torpedo to a cylinder 84, having a piston 86 therein, the piston 136l being provided Vwith a piston lrod 88.

The piston 'rod 88 has a rack 90 cut on its sur- V as to receive an end wrench or any square member and by rotation to move the piston 86 in the cylinder 84. When this is done, a certain amount of hydraulic fluid in the cylinder 84 is forced through the conduit into the chamber 46, and hence, changes the position of the piston 56 which is normally urged downwardly by the spring '68. VBy changing the position of the piston 56, the tension on the spring 56 may be changed, and hence, the position of the diaphragm 54 may be changed, that is, displaced above or below its horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 4. This in turn changes the position 'of at about its middle section. With this Vconstruc- V tion, it is evident that if the spring 16 is set so that the diaphragm'54V is drawn upwardly a given amount, it willtake a corresponding amount of water pressure on the diaphragm 54 to move the diaphragm back to its original position. Therefore, when the torpedo is dropped in the water, it will begin to sink in the water and Will continue to sink until vthe water` pressure on the outside of the torpedo, which is conducted through the conduit- [62 to the upper surface of the diaphragm 54 becomes equal to the tension in the spring 16, whereupon it will level out, by reason of the fact that the depth engine 46 will cease to operate. This would be true if there is no 'overrun of the torpedo. Since there is, however, an overrun due to the momentum of the torpedo, the torpedo will sink beyond the desired depth and the water pressure will force the ldiaphragm 54 below its neutral position whereupon the depth engine will be started up in its opposite direction, the planes |4 will be titled in the opposite direction, and-the torpedo'will begin to rise. This action *continues until the proper depth is arrived at and will greatly reduce the hunting inherent in this type of control where only tail planes are employed.

Asillustrated herein, and particularly in Figs. l and 3, it is desirable to provide means for protecting the nose planes M,` and Ahence, there are is launched.

fastened to the nose of the torpedo, guards IM which extend in opposite directions from the nose in parallel relation to the forward edges of the planes I 4. Preferably, the ends of the guards IM terminate just beyond the lateral edges of the planes l4, and hence, prevent any damage to these edges.

In preparing the torpedo for a run, the depth setting spindles for both the tail and nose planes are set for the same depth and then the torpedo lAs the torpedo enters the water, its initial plunge carries it below the surface and its propellers drive it on down at an angle to the surface. As the pressure becomes greater, the diaphragms move to a neutral position, whereupon the depth engines bring the nose and tail planes to a substantially horizontal position. The impulse of the plunge, however, carries the torpedo beyond the predetermined depth, and hence, the pressure pushes the diaphragms in the opposite direction. This causes the depth engines to again operate to move the planes to a position to cause the torpedo to move back to- Ward its predetermined depth. Due to the fact that both nose and tail planes are employed, the torpedo will attain its predetermined depth much more quickly than if only tail planes Were employed.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

1. An underwater body capable of self-propulsion, said body having horizontal planes at its opposite ends, said planes being independently operable, one of said planes being actuated in response to the water pressure to govern the depth at which the body will travel, and the other being actuated in response to the position of a free pendulum with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body to govern its angle of travel.

2. A torpedo having horizontal planes at the nose and tail, said planes being operable independently of each other, the nose planes being actuated in response to the water pressure to govern the depth at which it Will travel and the tail planes being actuated in response to the position of a free pendulum with respect to the longitudinal axis of the torpedo to govern the angle at which it will travel.

3. A torpedo having horizontal planes at the nose and tail, said planes being operable independently of each other, a depth engine operably connected to the planes at the nose, an angle control engine operably connected to the tail planes, means responsive to the differential between the pressure at the desired depth, and the existant pressure to cause said depth engines to tilt the planes in a direction to cause the torpedo to move toward the desired depth, and means comprising a pendulum operable by its position relative to the axis of the torpedo to actuate the angle control engine.

4. A torpedo having horizontal planes near the nose and tail, said planes being operableindependently of each other, a depth engine operably connected to the planes at the nose, means operable by the differential in the pressure at the desired depth and the existent pressure to cause the depth engine to tilt the planes in a direction to cause the torpedo to move toward the desired depth, and means for adjusting the last named means.

5. A torpedo having horizontal planes near the nose and the tail, said planes being operable independently of each other, a depth engine operably connected to the planes at the nose, hydraulically actuated means responsive to the water pressure to effect operation of the depth engine to tilt the planes in one direction or the other, and means for presetting said hydraulically actuated means so that it brings the planes to a horizontal position at a given depth.

6. A tdrpedo having horizontal planes near the nose and the tail, said planes being operable independently of each other, a depth engine operably connected to the planes at the nose, hydraulically actuated means responsive to the water pressure to effect operation of the depth engine to tilt the planes in one direction or the other, means adjustable to preset said hydraulically actuated means so that it brings the planes to a horizontal position at a given depth, and means to effect adjustment of said last named means from outside of the torpedo.

7. A torpedo having horizontal planes at the nose and the tail, said planes being operable independently of each other, a depth engine operably connected to the planes at the nose, a diaphragm operably connected to the depth engine to effect operation thereof when displaced from a given position, an air pressure chamber at one side of the diaphragm, a spring at the opposite side of the diaphragm, said spring being connected to the diaphragm, means for varying the tension in the spring to displace the diaphragm a given amount from said given position, and a conduit arranged to admit fiuid pressure to that side of the diaphragm opposite to-the air chamber to cause said diaphragm to move toward said given position.

8. A torpedo having horizontal planes at the nose and the tail, said planes being operable independently of each other, a depth engine operably connected to the planes at the nose, a diaphragm operably connected to the depth engine, which when shifted from an equilibrium position in one direction or the other effects operation of the depth engine, an air chamber on one side of said diaphragm, a spring on the other side, means for setting in a given tension on the spring to displace the diaphragm a predetermined amount from its equilibrium position, said means comprising a hydraulically operated piston, and means operable from the tail end of the torpedo to displace said hydraulic piston a given amount.

9. A torpedo having planes at the nose and tail, said planes at the nose having an area which is relatively large as compared to the area of the planes at the tail and being operable independently of the tail planes, and a guard adjacent to the nose planes extending transversely of the nose of the torpedo, and terminating just beyond the lateral edges of the nose planes.

10. A torpedo having horizontal planes at the nose and the tail, said planes at the nose extending laterally from opposite sides of the nose and being of comparatively large area, the lateral edges of said planes terminating within a projection of the larger diameter of the torpedo, and guards extending transversely of the torpedo along the forward edges of the planes, said guard terminating just beyond the lateral edges of said planes.

SAMUEL T. BUSSEY. 

